ATO M I C A B S O R P T I O N
technical note
AAnalyst™ 800 detection limits –
selenium data
• Instrument Detection Limits (IDL)
are often quoted as a measure of THGA Furnace Program
instrument performance. Temp Ramp Hold Read Flow
• However, a simple number, x pg, °C s s mL/min
etc., does not provide all the
110 1 30 250
information. This short technical
note provides support data for the 130 15 30 250
Se IDL produced on an AAnalyst
1000 15 20 250
800 system. It includes the
experimental details, typical 2050 0 4 X 0
graphite furnace atomic absorption
2500 1 5 250
signals and some of the data used
to calculate the IDL, precision at
low concentrations and the
characteristic mass data. Sufficient Analytical Signals
information is provided to allow Se Blank signal
an experienced user to repeat these (20 µL of 0.2% v/v HNO3)
measurements.
Integrated absorbance data:
• This information allows a com-
-0.0003, -0.0003, -0.0004, -0.0003,
plete interpretation of the IDL and
-0.0001, -0.0004, -0.0001, -0.0004,
evaluation of the performance of
-0.0004, -0.0003
the AAnalyst 800 system.
Mean: -0.0003
SD: 0.0001
Instrument Conditions
Lamp HCL 3 x SD x mo 3 x 0.0001 x 33 pg
IDL = =
Wavelength 196.0 nm 0.0044 0.0044
Slit 2.0 nm = 2.3 pg
BOC 2.0 s
Low Concentration Se Signal
Read 4.0 s (20 µL of 2.0 µg L-1 = 40 pg of Se)
Graphite Tube End-capped THGA Integrated absorbance data:
Volume 20 µL 0.0049, 0.0049, 0.0048
Modifier 5 µg Pd+ Mean: 0.0048
3 µg Mg(NO3)2 SD: 0.00002
RSD: 0.4%
Char. Mass 33 pg
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Se Signal
(20 µL of 100 µg L-1 = 2000 pg of Se)
Integrated absorbance signal:
0.2662, 0.2640, 0.2652
Mean: 0.265
SD: 0.0011
RSD: 0.4%
Comments
• End-capped tube improves sensitivity, characteristic mass 33 pg vs. 45 pg
for standard THGA tube.
• Solution detection limit for 50-µL sample volume = 0.05 µg L-1.
• The question is ‘At what concentration can I still perform reliable measure-
ments?’ The low concentration signal, 2 µg L-1, shows that measurements
at this level and below are easily achieved with the AAnalyst 800 system.
• A mixed chemical modifier of palladium/magnesium nitrate allows
a pyrolysis temperature of up to 1300°C for most samples.
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Order No. D-5732 June 1998 KG0698005 Printed in USA. © 1998 The Perkin-Elmer Corporation
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